Riga - 18 stops - par 54
The ball ends its journey at the Latvijas Nacionālā opera un balets. This round takes place in Rīga, where the map is the actual city and the game is played on its real streets. The holes are built from the city's real attractions, and Skip knows every cobblestone here. It is a full round of 18 holes with a par of 54. The walk covers 11.2 km, using 10 portals to bridge the gaps between the landmarks.
The course is drawn on the real street grid, so the map you play is the map you walk.
Drag to aim, release to swing. Buildings bounce and water costs you a stroke.
Every hole ends at an attraction. Sink the putt, read the story, walk to the next tee.
The Archbishop of Riga holds his seat here at Rīgas Doms. This cathedral is built in the Brick Gothic style and reaches a height of 90 meters. Formally called The Cathedral Church of Saint Mary, it is the Evangelical Lutheran cathedral in Riga, Latvia. You can pick out this site by its massive scale and the specific masonry used in its construction. It is a central landmark in the city that remains an active place of worship and administration for the church.
You might think this is a simple city decoration, but the Brīvības piemineklis is actually a monument of art of national importance in Latvia. Located in Riga, it stands 42 metres high and was crafted from copper, travertine, and granite. The project was started in 1935 and was designed by architect Ernests Štālbergs. It serves as a tribute to the soldiers killed during the Latvian War of Independence from 1918 to 1920. I've seen plenty of folks stop here to admire the scale of the work.
You will find the Jews in Latvia Museum in Riga, where it collects and preserves evidence regarding the community of Latvian Jews from its beginning. Founded in 1989, it is one of the few private museums in Latvia accredited by the state. The museum works to popularise and research the history of the community, ensuring that these specific narratives are documented for all visitors. I've noticed the exhibits provide a focused look into a local heritage that you won't find in the larger state galleries, making it a meaningful stop on your journey through the city streets.
Let me show you the Latvijas Nacionālais dabas muzejs. This natural history museum in Rīga was founded in 1845, making it a long-standing part of the city. It began its life as the Riga Naturalist Society before becoming the museum you see today. It is a great spot to spend an afternoon if you enjoy exploring the natural world and learning about the environment. I have noticed that the crowds here are usually quite curious, which makes the atmosphere feel very welcoming to anyone who wanders in from the street.
You might think this is just another old town monument, but it is actually the House of the Blackheads. This baroque building was originally erected in 1334 for merchants to use for celebrations and meetings. By the mid-15th century, the Brotherhood of Blackheads—a guild for foreigners, shipowners, and unmarried merchants—also called it home. If you look closely at the facade, you can see Mannerist ornamentation added in the early 17th century and sculptures from the August Volz workshop created in the 19th century. I've always found the ornamentation particularly striking from the air.
Let me show you Rīgas Pils, a castle located on the banks of River Daugava in the capital of Latvia. It is the official residence of the President of Latvia and a National architectural monument. This site was founded in 1330, though the structure was rebuilt between 1497 and 1515. You can also pick out the spacious annexes that the Swedes constructed in 1641. I've noticed it's a great spot for people-watching by the water, especially when the light hits the river just right.
You might expect every stage in the city to perform in Latvian, but this is not the case here. Let me show you the Mihaila Čehova Rīgas Krievu teātris, which is a Russian-language theatre company. It is located at 16 Kaļķu iela in Riga. Established in 1883, the company remains a significant part of the city's cultural offerings. Locals frequently refer to the institution as the RRT or the Russian Theatre. I've noticed it's a great spot to experience a different linguistic side of the city's art scene.
You can pick out the vast array of works inside the Latvian National Museum of Art. This art museum in Riga holds the largest collection of national art in Latvia, making it a primary destination for anyone interested in the country's creative history. I have noticed that the galleries stay quite busy throughout the year, as the museum sees 208,709 annual visitors. It has been a fixture of the city since it was founded in 1869, providing a dedicated space for the preservation of the nation's artistic achievements.
Let me show you a building designed in the eclectic style of Historicism. While it is now the home of the Latvijas Nacionālais teātris theatre company, this site holds a deeper place in the city's history. You can pick out the architectural details of the exterior, but the interior is where the country of Latvia was proclaimed in 1918. The theatre company was founded in 1919 and has since become a staple of the local arts scene. Ojārs Rubenis has been the director since 2006. I find the blend of styles on the facade quite striking.
This building is not a science center, though it once served that purpose. It is the Kristus Piedzimšanas pareizticīgo katedrāle, an Eastern Orthodox cathedral and a National architectural monument of Latvia. Designed by architect Nikolai Chagin, the structure reaches a height of 40 meters. It was built between 1876 and 1883 in the Byzantine Revival architecture style. After a period of different uses, the building became an Orthodox cathedral again in 1921. You can see the influence of its specific design style in the exterior details of the monument.
Let me show you the New Riga Theatre, a theatre company situated in Riga, Latvia. Established in 1992, it has become a significant location for the performing arts in the city. You can pick out the influence of the artists who began their professional journeys here, as both Alvis Hermanis and Viesturs Kairišs started their careers at this theatre. It is a great spot to see how the city supports its creative talent, and I always enjoy watching the crowds gather here for a show. It is a wonderful example of the local arts scene in action.
You will first notice the functionalism architecture style of the building at Brīvības Street 75. This is the home of Dailes teātris, a theatre company that provides a variety of performances across three different spaces: a large hall, a small hall, and a chamber hall. The repertoire includes works by both Latvian and foreign authors. The company has a long history in the city, having been founded in 1920 by director and actor Eduards Smiļģis. I've noticed the building's clean lines make it a real standout on the street.
Svētā labticīgā Aleksandra Ņevska pareizticīgo baznīca is an Eastern Orthodox church building in Riga. The inception of this wooden church was in 1820, and it was designed in the Classicism style. Since its beginning, the building has become a National architectural monument of Latvia. If you are visiting the capital of Latvia, you can find this landmark situated at 56 Brīvības Street. It is a significant example of early nineteenth-century religious architecture in the city, maintaining its presence as a protected site for those who wish to see its wooden construction and classical form.
Vērmanes dārzs is a park that holds the title of the oldest public garden in the city of Riga, Latvia. You can pick out its status as a local architectural monument while wandering through its area of approximately 5 hectares. The garden was established in 1817, and its current name is a Latvian transliteration of the original German name. I find it a great spot for a stroll when I am not busy looking for crumbs, especially since there are so many visitors to keep an eye on.
You might think this is simply a modern exhibit, but it is actually the Pulvertornis. This tower in Riga, Latvia, was originally a part of the defensive system of the town. Built in 1650, the structure has seen a lot of history, including a renovation that took place from 1937 to 1940. Today, the tower is added to the structure of the Latvian War Museum. I've always found the thick walls of these old fortifications quite impressive, even from a bird's eye view.
Svētā Pētera baznīca is a church building in Riga, the capital of Latvia. It is a parish church of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia and is dedicated to Saint Peter. The architecture of the building is composed of several styles, including Brick Gothic, Gothic art, and Baroque. This site is recognized as a National architectural monument of Latvia. Visitors can see that the structure reaches a height of 123.25 meters, standing as a significant landmark within the city.
Svētā Jēkaba katedrāle is the Roman Catholic cathedral of Riga in Latvia. This building is part of the Old Riga UNESCO World Heritage Site and lies directly opposite the House of the Livonian Noble Corporation. You can notice the Romanesque architecture style used in its construction. The cathedral is dedicated to Saint James the Greater and is recognized as a National architectural monument of Latvia. It reaches a height of 86 meters, making it a prominent feature of the city skyline for any visitor to observe.
The Great Hall houses 946 seats, providing a grand scale for the performances at the Latvijas Nacionālā opera un balets. This opera company is a state-owned enterprise that has been active since 1919. Located at Aspazijas boulevard 3 in Riga, the organization employs approximately 600 people to keep the productions running. You can also find smaller venues here, such as the New Hall with a maximum seating capacity of 338 and the Red Hall which holds 100. Since 2013, Mārtiņš Ozoliņš has served as the chief conductor. I've always found the different hall sizes quite handy for different moods.
Rīgas Horālā sinagoga was a synagogue located on Gogoļa iela in the Latgale neighborhood of Riga. Its inception was in 1868 and the building was completed in 1871. As the largest synagogue in Riga, it was designed by architect Paul v. Hardenack in the Renaissance Revival architecture style. The building no longer stands today. It was burned down on 4 July 1941 during the German occupation of Latvia, marking the end of the structure that had served the community for decades.
This is a full 18-hole round through Zürich. The map follows the real city, with the ball rolling across actual streets and banking off building facades. Real attractions like the Grossmünster are what the holes are built from. Skip knows every corner of this place, though a pigeon mostly cares about the crumbs. The walk covers 12.4 km and uses 70 portals to bridge the gaps between distant landmarks.
This is a full round of 18 holes through Zagreb. The map follows the real city, with the ball rolling across actual streets and banking off building facades. Real attractions like the bazilika Presvetog Srca Isusova form the holes. Skip knows these pavements well, even the bits where the crumbs are best. The walk covers 10.2 km and uses 40 portals to bridge the gaps between distant parts of the city.
This is a full eighteen-hole round through York. The map is the real city and the ball rolls along its actual streets, banking off the stone of the York Minster. Real attractions provide the structure for every hole. Six portals help move the ball across the 6.9 mi walk. Skip is a local guide who knows these alleys and bars by heart, provided there are no crumbs to distract him.
Wrocław is the setting for this round, where the map is the real city and the ball rolls across its actual streets. The holes are built from real attractions, starting at the Archikatedra Świętego Jana Chrzciciela. Skip is a local guide who knows the place and where the best crumbs are hidden. This full round of 18 holes has a par of 54 and covers a walk of 10.2 km, with 28 portals to help the ball skip across the map.
This is Warszawa, where the map is the real city and the round is played on its actual streets. The holes are built from real attractions, starting at Religijne Towarzystwo Przyjaciół w Polsce. This quick 9-hole round covers 4.9 km with a par of 26, using 78 portals to bridge the gaps. Skip knows these sidewalks well enough to find the best banks.
Yes. Every course runs in the browser with no account and no install.
No. The full round plays from anywhere. Walking the real route is a nice way to see the city, but it is not required.
Yes. The geometry comes from OpenStreetMap data, rendered chunky on purpose. Streets, water and parks sit where they really are.
